Japan: U.S. won't cut troop levels in Okinawa(to repel special force blitz by China)

Yomiuri Shimbun ^ | 06/30/05

[TigerLikesRooster]

Things could get messy if pro-China elements in Taiwan create serious political turmoil inside the country, virtually fracturing the country. That is probably what China would be working on before the blitz by Chinese special forces.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Jack of all Trades]

Sixty years since the end of WWII, and still no exit strategy. What a quagmire.

</sarcasm>

[Carry_Okie]

How well armed are the citizens of Taiwan outside of the army? If there is an internal militia, how well organized is it?

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[toddlintown]

I'm all for troops in Japan, but I find it odd that Democrats are so eager for a troop withdrawal schedule in Iraq but say nothing about troops in Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Bosnia, etc.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[ko_kyi]

Don't forget Korea - Truman should have had a plan and an exit strategy. Dang cowboy.

[elfman2]

"In contrast, the use of small military units such as special forces units could enable China to avert a major war with the United States on one hand and to make it difficult for the U.S. military to intervene in Taiwan. In such a situation, the Chinese would aim to effectively put Taiwan under its control. "

I’ve been laughing Chinese invasion scenarios for years, but that one’s possible. Not with Bush in the White house, but possible with most others. It even gives them a face-saving out if they fail, claiming that it was just a warning or punishment to some individuals.

[norton]

"How well armed are the citizens of Taiwan outside of the army? If there is an internal militia, how well organized is it?"

Way back when, the police had record of every firearm on island - I think None were in local hands - and made it a practice to drop by and count rounds. Prior notice not required.

I'm fairly sure it isn't any better today.

Taiwan has always had an underlying fear of native Taiwanese and mainland sympathizers because the ROC retreated onto an island that had been under chinese rule but not of it's culture.

[norton]

"I'm all for troops in Japan, but I find it odd that Democrats are so eager for a troop withdrawal schedule in Iraq but say nothing about troops in Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Bosnia, etc."

Just ask yourself which party was in power when those troops were put in place..
Spain is the only one I'm not sure of.

Too bad we can't position 3MAB on Taiwan, it's a heck of a lot nicer place to spend time and the locals are not tainted by sixty years of watching American evolution.

[Skeeve14]

I doubt that. China treated us like a bitch when they brought down our spy plane and then charged us to send it back to us.

[Carry_Okie]

Off the top of your head, what fraction of the people would fight a Chinese invasion?

[toddlintown]

Tarajon, Spain (sp?)was originally a Spanish AF base that was filled with Junkers transports, Heinkle bombers and Messerschmidt fighters during the war and was given over to the 16th Air Force in the 50's which moved B-47's to it after a big upgrade.

I flew in there in the late '70s. Not sure if we're still there or not.

[toddlintown]

Torrejon Air Base, Torrejon, Spain

[norton]

Franco used a lot of German equipment and style. Of course Hitler helped him out during the revolution (meanwhile testing that same german equipment).
Franco also remained neutral during the war to a degree that leaves Spain out of the 'losers' category and lets them off of the hook that other fascists got hung up on.

Thanks for setting the time frame and early purpose, B47 (absolutely beautiful) was way closer to tactical than strategic no matter what it carried.

[norton]

"Off the top of your head, what fraction of the people would fight a Chinese invasion?"

Fewer today than back then but I'd guess most by far would prefer to remain just where they are, apart, dynamic and capitalist.

China would be crazed to invade; simply because ROC has been successful and the US is near at hand. More to fear from slow evolution, if the PRC does become more of a power and ROC becomes more 'tolerant' (as in Korea) they could very well eventually reunite.

On the other hand, depends on how they interpret Hong Kong after their transition and what comes to pass between PRC and Japan.

All IMHO.

[Carry_Okie]

More to fear from slow evolution, if the PRC does become more of a power and ROC becomes more 'tolerant' (as in Korea) they could very well eventually reunite.

Expect that scenario to acclerate if we flake in Iraq.

[Poundstone]

Interesting that the headline and story don't match. The story says the US doesn't want to cut COMBAT Marines ("trigger pullers"), but the way seems open to cutting non-trigger pullers (logistics-type Marines). Hope that satisfies folks in Okinawa.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Things could get messy if pro-China elements in Taiwan create serious political turmoil inside the country, virtually fracturing the country. That is probably what China would be working on before the blitz by Chinese special forces.

Is China prepared to face the consequences of Taiwan launching missiles into Beiging if they decide to attack Taiwan?